WEST WHITELAND – Supervisors will host two community conversations on development of the Waterloo Gardens property during their March business meetings, the township announced Tuesday.

The discussions about the property will be held during the board’s regular March business meetings, March 12 and 19. Both meetings start at 6:30 p.m. in the main meeting room of the township building at 101 Commerce Drive.

The community conversations will be done in a question and answer format and township staff will be on hand to discuss current zoning, what can be built and what the current status of the property is, according to a letter to residents.

The property, which formerly housed the Waterloo Gardens’ Exton store, was sold in September for $4.6 million to BET Investments Inc., a commercial real estate company owned by Bruce Toll.

Advertisement

Waterloo Gardens closed in July 2013 after more than 71 years in business. The family-run landscaping company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2012, citing economic pressures on its business.

The site contains 48 acres, with six acres on West Lincoln Highway and 42 acres on Whitford Road, according to reports. It sits adjacent to Toll’s newly built Roberts Chevrolet.

According to a previous press release announcing its acquisition of the property, Michael Markman, president of BET Investments, said the company “intends to develop this property with a mix of uses that are complimentary to the surrounding properties.”

Markman said in an email Tuesday there is “no real progress yet” with the development of the property.

The purchase of the property occurred around the same time the township’s Lincoln Highway and Whitford Road Corridor Committee began its work reviewing the current zoning and land use in that area of the township. At a recent public workshop held by the committee, residents said one of their top concerns is the development of the Waterloo property.

“Like you, the Board of Supervisors is concerned about potential development of the Waterloo property because of its location adjacent to several neighborhoods,” the township said in the letter to residents. “The Board of Supervisors believes a continuous and open line of communication must be kept with the residents so they are kept fully informed about the Waterloo property and that their concerns are heard and considered during any future proceedings.”

According to the township, the developer has not yet submitted a development plan for review. BET Investments is also invited to attend and participate in the community conversations.

Although residents do not need to RSVP to the event, the township is encouraging residents to call or email Pat Layman at 610-363-9525 or playman@westwhiteland.org if they plan to attend so that there will be enough printed materials.